Vidalia — From the wave symbols on the sign to the textured glass separator and the colors on the wall, everything in Riverfront Royale Salon and Spa is meant to promote relaxation.

“Right here by the river is a naturally relaxing atmosphere,” said Clara Nell Brown, sales manager for Jackson Enterprises, which owns and operates the salon and spa. “We wanted to do everything we could on the inside to create the same relaxing, rejuvenating environment.”

Riverfront Royale opened its doors two months ago as a retreat for guests at the adjacent Comfort Suites as well as the general public.

Riverfront Royale is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday on Front Street in Vidalia. Appointments can be made by calling 318-336-8898. Walk-ins are welcome, as well.

“When this building became available five or six years ago, I thought this would make a great spa location,” Brown said. “At that time, Mr. (VIrgil) Jackson wanted to purchase the building, but things didn’t work out.

“This time everything came together and now we have a 5,000-square-foot spa and salon.”

The salon offers a full range of products and services including cuts, styling, coloring, highlights, chemical treatments and waxing and sugaring treatments.

Sugaring is a relatively new technique that removes hair without the heat and pain sometimes associated with waxing, Brown said.

For hair, Brown said it is the personal approach the stylists take that makes the salon top notch.

“They each take the time to talk to their clients to find out what their lifestyle is like and what sort of hair routine they want,” Brown said. “Then they consider their face shape and structure to come up with the best style to fit that particular person.”

There is room for eight stylists and two barbers at the salon.

In the spa, Brown said relaxation is the name of the game, right down to the 400 thread count linens and soft terrycloth lined robes.

The spa offers massages, facials, body wraps, paraffin treatments, exfoliation treatments and other services.

“Everything we do and everything we offer is top-of-the-line,” Brown said. “Our staff members attend seminars, conferences and classes to make sure they are up-to-date.”

And the equipment at Riverfront Royale is some of the best and newest technology available, Brown said.

The pedicure chairs used at the salon use a new two-pipe water flow design that eliminates any contaminated or old water from being used in the soaking bowls.

“Water comes in through one pipe and goes our through a completely different one,” Brown said.

Brown said the salon and spa have been well received by locals and visitors alike.

“This is a place where you can come and in get all the services you want in one place,” she said. “At one point or another, everyone needs a little pick me up and that is what we are here for.”

She said tourists from both sides of the river have scheduled appointments for services at the salon to compliment their vacation itinerary.

“We are a great place for tours and history and walking, but there is only so much of that you can do before you need a break,” Brown said. “We’ve had people come in from D.C., Oklahoma, California, just all over. People want a place where they can escape and relax and that is what we are here for.”

Services can be bundled to create an entire spa day or groups can book the salon for special occasions or girlfriend getaways.

One spa package includes a one-hour massage, the Royale facial, a manicure and deluxe pedicure with a paraffin treatment and foot mask. But Brown said, packages are changing all the time and can be customized for the clients needs.

Dr. John White is also in the process of setting up an office to provide laser and injectable treatments for spa clients.

He will provide laser resurfacing, pulse light skin treatment for age spots and fine wrinkles, Botox injections and lipolisis, a new laser based treatment to dissolve body fat.

But no matter the treatment or service a client picks, Brown said, her hope is that they walk out the doors more rejuvenated than when they came in.

“We want people to come her to be pampered, relax and leave revived,” she said. “That’s what people need to do for themselves. We are here to help them erase the stress in their lives.”